Fill Your Network with All-Stars, Not the Farm Team

When it comes to startups, most need people in the skill positions to help them: problem seekers, problem solvers, gadget makers, money finders, story tellers, business builders, score keepers, and legal eagles. While it might not seem obvious, the same holds true if you are planning a career transition from clinical medicine. Whether you decide to be a 1099 doc or follow some other path to Plan B, you should focus on expanding not just the quantity of your network members, but, more importantly, the quality. Like a startup, you need to surround yourself with those in the skill positions. Those are:

1. Visionary. Sees how problems can be solved and articulates the solution in a way that enables others to execute the vision.

2. Optimizer. Looks at an existing process or system and immediately sees ways to streamline or improve it.

3. Super-Connector. Develops a huge, ever-growing professional network and uses it to help facilitate introductions that lead to people collaborating together.

4. Builder. Takes any blueprint or game plan and executes on it by being extremely resourceful and motivating those around them to be accountable.

5. Educator. Comfortable presenting and explaining; empowers others by closing their gap in knowledge.

6. Researcher. Dives deep, gathering all the facts, and then presents them in a way that ensures an informed decision can be made.

7. Warrior. Fearless and ready to roll up their sleeves to do whatever it takes to make a project a success.

8. Mentor. Helps individuals experience, learn, and grow by carefully guiding them toward opportunities to become more professionally mature. Remember, particularly if you are an intrapreneur, that mentors are not sponsors.

When it comes to career planning, physician entrepreneurs need to consider many things. One is to be sure you have the best players in the starting lineup.